WEBDESK - TRIBUNE - Imran Malik
Mai Sobhayi, a female folk singer from the Bugti tribe known for publicly performing traditional music, was shot dead by unidentified armed assailants in Balochistan's Dera Bugti district, police and local media reported.
The attackers opened fire on Sobhayi in the Dera Bugti area, killing her at the scene before fleeing, according to initial reports.
Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the killing remained unclear and an investigation was under way to establish a motive and identify those responsible.
Reports differed over the number of attackers involved, with some local media outlets saying a group of armed men carried out the shooting. Police did not immediately provide further details about the circumstances of the attack.
Sobhayi was widely described as the first female folk singer from the Bugti tribe to break with local traditions by performing publicly and sharing her music with wider audiences.
Her death has drawn renewed attention to the difficulties faced by women pursuing public careers in conservative and tribal parts of Balochistan, where female performers and artists can face intense social scrutiny.
Police said investigators were examining the case from multiple angles and that efforts were continuing to identify and arrest the attackers.
No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the killing.
Authorities have not said whether Sobhayi's public performances or career as a singer were connected to the attack, and police said it would be premature to speculate about the motive while the investigation was continuing.
The killing has nevertheless sparked concern among those following cultural and artistic life in Balochistan, where folk music remains an important part of regional and tribal traditions but women performers have historically faced greater barriers to appearing publicly.
Further details are expected as investigators gather evidence and question potential witnesses in Dera Bugti.